Stapling machine



June 15 1926.

F. POLZER STAPLING MACHINE Filed August 13 1925 2 SheetsfSheet June l5 1926.

F. POLZER STAPLING MACHINE 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed August 15 Patented June 15, 1926.

y UNITED STATES 1 PATENT oFF1cE.

rmnoLIN fotzen., or SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNon To `Tm?. E. n.

nOTCmuss COMPANY, or NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CON- NECTICUT.

sTArLINe MACTTINE.

Application led August 13, 1925. Serial No. 49,991.

This invention relates to stapling machines, and particularlyto 'staplfing machines of the type wherein a number of previously formed staples are held in a magazine and fed forwardly to a position from which they are driven by a suitable movable plunger, and has for an object to provide an improved feeding means. for the staples which will be more reliable and eflicient in operation and will feed the staples equally as well when the supply is nearly exhausted as when a large num r of staples are in the machine. v Y.

It is also an object of the invention Yto l5 provide a. construction to facilitate and simplifyy the Operationof inserting anew supplyoflstaplles in the machine. Itis a'furt provide improved holding means for the staple during-the driving operation, and it is a ystill further object ofthe invention to provide a construction of this type kof machine in which the operating mechanism. may be assembled outside of the housingv andA insertedas a unit in this housing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view7` I` have devised the construction` il- `lustrated in the accompanying drawings -iormin a part of this specification, sinn ilar re erence characters :being employed throughout the various ligures to indicate corresponding elements. In these drawings,

i Fig. 1 isf-a-.partial side-elevation-andvpartial section through the housing at'one side of the operating mechanism so that this mechanism is shown in elevation, 'the secion being substantially on line 1,--1 of ig. 3. l

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rear end of the machine showing how the staples are fed to the machine.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine with the `face plate removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectionof the front end of the machine showing the position of the elements when the staple holding device is in its lowermost position but still functionin to retain the staple.

n y f g. 5 is a similar. view' showing the plunger in vits lowest'position.

*if `v 'jFig. 6 is a detail section substantially on *Wine-6 6 .of Fig. 1.

I I 7 is fa detail section substantially on line --I of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a section substantially on line er l,object ofthe invention to `chamber for the feedin 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing the spring mecha- `nism in front elevation.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.,

Flg. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 show- 1ng how the unit assembly is removed from and mounted in the housing.

Fig. 11 is a partial side elevation and partial section indicating how the feed mechanism is rendered ineiective while a neleyv supply of staples is placed in the mac me.

Fig. 12 isa. vertical section through the i; I'

spring mechanism forv the feed.

Fig. 13 1s a side elevation ofthe' plate closlng theopen slde ofthe barrel.

Fig.. 14 is an end and side elevation of the arbor at the centerof the barrel', and

Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of the machine looking from the right of Fig. 10.

The machine comprises the base 16 carry ing the anvil 17 which cooperates with the plunger lfor vsetting the staples.- This base has upwardly extending ears 518 between which the bar 21 is pivoted asat 20. A. housing 19 carries the staplev holding'- and guiding means comprising bar 21 inserted 1n the housing and somewhat narrower at its upper side thanl at its lower side as shown at 22 to allow space for passage of the vprongs 28 of the staples between the side walls of the bar and the housing. y The side walls. of the housingtare providedrwith in- Y wardly extending ribs 24 a short distance above thetop of the bar 21 to form guides to retain `the staples-0n the bar, and they also provide a slot 25 in the top'of the rear ortion ofthe housing for passage of the iiandle 26 of the feedin 27. This element is su stantially U-shaped in cross section as shown, and is inverted so as to straddle the to of the harv21 and element or follower V slide along the top of t is bar. At its for` ward end it engages the staples mounted 'on the bar and tends to force them for# wardly into position to be driven vby the plunger through mechanism presently to be described.

v.Atits forward art the housing isprovided with an e argement 28 forming va mechanism,v this chamber being open at t e front for insertion and removal of this mechanism. This feeding lmechanism comprises a casing 29 which is open at its forward and lower sides for insertion of the various elements. Mounted in this casing is a barrel or drum 30 mounted to rotate'on a cross pin 31, and this barrel is substantially cup shaped so that it is open at one side which is closed by the disc 32. This disc is rovided with a circular raised portion 33 w ich fits in the open side of the barrel as shown in Fig. 12 but it may rotate independently of the bar rel. This discvis also mounted to rotate on the cross pin 3l and is connected to an arbor 34 on this pin. A convenient means for connecting the arborto` the disc is to provide one end of the arbor with lugs 35 which may, extend into openings in the disc. A flat convolute spring 36 is mounted in the drum, -one end thereof being connected to the arbor 34 and the opposite end being connected to the outer wall of the drum as shown in Fig. 7, so that this spring tends to rotate the drum counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1, 7 and 11. Secured to the outer surface of this drum is a flat fie'xible strip of metal 37 which is wound about the drum and passes at the lower side of the drum over a guide roller 38 located immediately above the top of the guide bar 2l and immediately to the rear of the plunger 39, and this strip then passes rearwardly over the top of the bar and is connected to the feeding element or follower 27 by any suitable means, such as a screwr 40. It will thus be apparent that as the spring 36 tends to rotate the drum counter-clockwise as indicated, it tends to draw the feedin element 27 forwardly on the bar 21 and orce the staples forwardly to a. position under the plunger.

It is at times ydesirable torender this spring ineffective, especially when placing a supply of staples inthe machine and also during the assembling or disassembling of the machine. For this purpose a ratchet disc 41 is secured to the drum 30. It is mounted on the cross pin 3l and secured to rotate with the drum by means of astud 42 carried by the drum and projecting into an o enin in this dise. This disc, has any esire number of teeth 43 in its outer periphery arranged to cooperate with a awl 44 pivot` 'ed in the casing 29 at 45. It will be a parent that this pawl when engaging a toot of the ratchet will prevent the spring 36 from rotating the barrel to draw the feeding element 27 forwardly as described above. A spring 46 engages the lower arm 47 of the pawl 44 and tends to hold it in engagement with the ratchet. This lower armsis provided on its fronti side with a lug 48 the opposite sides of which are inclined as shown to form a double cam, and this lug projects into the path of movement of a bar 49 on the plunger 39, so that as the plun er is reciprocated the pawl 44 will be lifte from. the ratchet to allow the spring 37 to function to advance the feeding element or follower 27.

upper end, which may be pressed downward- 1y by a blow of the hand or merely b forcing it downwardly. The plunger inc udes a plate 52 projecting below the lower end of the body of the plunger, which plate is sub stantially of the same thickness as the staples to be driven. When the plunger is in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of this plate is laced a short distance above the top of the ar 21 to allow the foremost staple on this bar to be forced by the follower 27 under this plate.

Means is provided to prevent the foremost staple dropping downwardly in the guideways 53 before the plunger is operated. This comprises a spring strip 54 mounted in a guideway in the rear wall of the face plate 55. This face plate is secured, in position at the forward side of the plunger to retain the plunger in the guideways 50, and it is secured-to the housing b any suitable means as the screws 56. T is late is preferably made in two sections so t at the lower section 57 immediately in front of the bar 21 may be removed if desired independently of the rest of the plate to remove any staples which might be clogged in the guideway at the front of the bar. The strip 54 is mounted to slide with the plunger throughout a certain portion of its movement and is turned inwardly at its lower end as shown at 58, toward the end of the bar 21 and under the forward sta le to retain this staple under the lower e ge of the plunger plate 52 as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. As the plunger is forced downwardly the pressure of the plunger on the staple and the pressure of the staple on the inturned end of the spring will carry this plate 54 downwardly with the plunger so that it will retain the staple in position under the lower end of the plunger plate 52 until the plunger' plate reaches the position, substantially shown in Fig. 4, with the rongs of the staple driven through thes eet of paper 59, when the movement of the plate 54 is arrested by the laterally bent u per end 60 engaging the top wall of the ace plate 55. The lower end of this spring, however, is ada ted in this position to move outwardly away rom the end of the bar v21, andthis is what it does do as the plunger continues its downward movement, and therefore, this further downward movement of the plunger forces the staple past the end of the spring and sets the staple The staple is thus under'the control of the strip or plate 54 until the upper end 60 thereof engages the to ofthe face plate 55 when the staple is forced down` wardly by the further movement of the llO plunger.' If for `any reas'onfthe' plunger should be forced downwardly tothe position shownvin Fig. 4 vand then be allowed to go back to its upper. position without completing'its downward movement it will move the lform a lost motion connection between the plate and the plunger to allow a further downward movement of the lunger from the position shown in Fig. 4 a ter thel movement of the spring plate has been arrested. lVhen in its upper position as shown in Fig.

.1, the lower end of the spring plate 54 is held against the end of the bar 21 by the rear wall of the face plate 55, and therefore, it

i cannot be puslied'to one side by the force of the spring-36 vof the staple feeding mechav nism to cause the staples to be dropped from the machine when it is not in operation.

f The disc`32 is provided with an arm 63 'which y:projects into an opening 64 iny the plunger 39 so that when the plunger is forced downwardly to drive a staple this arm will f also be forced downwardly, rotating the disc counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. l, 4 and 7, and will put an increased tension on the spring 36. This momentarily increased tension on the spring 36 tends to insure that a proper pull is applied to the follower 27 to make sure that the staples will be fed forwardly as required. This spring also tends to lift the plunger to its upper position, but to insure that the plunger is brought back to this position after the pressure on the knob 5l is removed another spring 65 is connected to the arm 63 and its other end is connected to a pin-66 mounted in the upper part of the housing. The spring also tends to move the arm 63 upwardly and assists in raising the plunger. The housing is provided with a recess 67 open at the front thereof into which this pin 66 may be inserted, the upper end of the spring passing through a slot 68 in the lower wall of this recess. This additional spring is provided to secure a more reliable operation.

-It is to be noted that the barrel 30 with the disc 32, the spring 36, and the ratchet and pawl 41-44 is mounted in the casing 29 so that it may be assembled as a unit outside of the machine and merely inserted as a unit through the opening` in the front side of the enlargement 28 of the housing. as indicated in Fig. 10, the lower edges of this easing resting on the ribs 24 and the cross member 69. It may also be removed from the housing by merely removing the face plate 55 and the plunger and then drawing it forwardly through the opening in the housing. The back wall of the enlargement pawl from the ratchet.

28 is provided with an opening 70 through which the follower 27 may pass in the assembling or disassembling operation. vIn disf assembling, this follower is drawn backwardly out the rear of the machine bypulling on `the handle-26 until itis free from the machine, as shown in Fig.` 1.1, and it maybe the mechanism to break the strip 37 or injure the user, by means of the pawl and ratchet 41-44, which pawl and ratchet, as will be ob- A swung to' one side free of the machine with- I' i out danger of being drawn forwardly into vious, will renderthe spring 36 ineffective.' l

The casing 29 may thenbe withdrawn from the 'housing and the followery 27 passed through the opening 7 0 as shown in Fig.' l() to remove the entire vmechanism from thel housing. The assembling is merely a rel versal of this operation.

The pawl and ratchet 41-444 also facilitates the feeding of la new supply of staples to the machine. By drawing backwardly onvthe handle 26 as described above i:

the follower 27 may be withdrawn through the rear end of thev machineandfmoved'to 'one side, as-indicated in Fig." 11, andthe operator does not have to be careful to prevent its being drawn forwardly by the spring 36 either to' injure the operator or break the strip 437, because the spring is held by the pawl and ratchet. The staples may be fed onto the rear end of the bar `21 from a holder 71 as shown in Fig. 2, this holder i being placed to straddle the reduced rear end 72- of the bar and then the staples `73 arel merely forced off this holder onto the bar 21. The follower 27 may then be re- 4turned to its normal position on the bar 21 and the pawl 44 released to allow the spring 36 to draw the follower forwardly to bring theV staplesto the proper position.

-This pawl maybe released by the operator 4by merely forcing the plunger 39 downwardly a short distance, which will cause the bar 49 on the plunger to engage the upper wall of the cam lug 48 and lift the This immediately releases the spring 46 allowing it to draw the feeding member forwardly. It is also to be noted that every complete reciprocation of the plunger during the operation of driving the staples will release the pawl 44 twice, once on its downward movement by engagement `of thebar 49 with'tlie upper wall of the lug 48, and then again on the up- -ward movement of the plunger by engagement of the bar 49 with the lower wall of the cam lug 48. Therefore, the pawl is always released suiiiciently on reciprocating movements of the plunger to allow the spring 36 to'perforni its necessary feeding operation for the staples to insure that there is, always a vstaple under thev plunger.L The guide roller 38 insures that the pull of the strip 37 on the follower 27 is always parfil =the plunger throughout part.. of its movevided with means coacting allel with the top of the bar 21, and it also insures that this follower can be drawn clear up to the forward end of the bar so that the last staple will be fed under the plunger.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a stapling machine, a staple guide having an upright wall, a plunger mounted to move by said wall to drive and set the individual staples, a spring plate mounted at the opposite side 'of the plunger and movable throughout part of its movement with said plunger, said spring plate being rowith the env of the guide to hold the staple under the end of the plunger, and means to stop the movement of the spring before the plunger reaches the end of its movement to release the staple.

2. In a stapling machine, a staple guide and support having an upright wall at one end, a plunger mounted to move by said end,

to drive and set the individual staples, a spring plate mounted at the opposite side of the plunger and having an inturned lower end cooperating with said end wall to hold the staple under the plunger, said lower end being adapted toyield laterally away from saidl wall, and the plate being movable with ment, and a stop to limit the movement of the plate at a given pointJ in the movement of the plunger to release the staple by fur-` ther movement of the plunger.

In a stapling machine, means for driving and setting the individual staples, means for feeding the staples to the first mentioned means including a feeding element, a spring and a flexible connection from the spring to said element to force the element forwardly, said feeding element being mounted so that it may be withdrawn rearwardly against action of the spring to allow insertion of staples toward the driving means from the rear of the machine, and means to remove the tension of the spring from said flexible connectionto render the spring ineffective to advance the element during the insertion of the staples in the machine.

4. In a stapling machine, means for driving and setting the individual staples, means for feeding the staples to the first mentioned means including a feeding element, a spring and a flexible connection between the spring and the element tending to force. the element forwardly, means.. whereby the feeding element may be drawn rearwardly to allow-1 Ainsertion of the staples from the rear of the machine, and a catch to remove the tension of the spring from said flexible connection to render the lspring ineffective to advance said element during the insertion of the staples in the machine. n

5. In a stapling machine, means for driv- -operated ing and setting the individual staples, means for feeding the staples to the firsty mentioned means includingy a feeding element and a spring tending to force the element forwardly, said element being mounted so that it may be withdrawn rearwardly against acspring tending to move said element forwardly, said element being mounted so that it may be drawn rearwardly against action `of the spring to permit 'insertion of staples,

and means controlled by the plunger for rendering the spring ineffective when the element is in the rearward position.

7.. In a stapling machine, a movableplunger for driving and setting the individual staples, a support and guide for the staples, a follower movable along said guide to advance the staples, a spring, a connection from the spring to the follower, and means controlled by the plunger for rendering the spring ineffective.

8. In a stapling machine, a movable plunger for driving and setting the indi` vidual staples, a support and guide for 'the staples, a .follower movable along said guide to advance the staples, a sprin a rotary drum connected to the spring, a exible connection from the drum to said follower and adapted to be wound about the drum, and a pawl and ratchet to control the operation of the spring, said pawl and ratchet being controlled by said plunger.

9. In a stapling machine, a movable plunger for driving and setting the indi- `vidual staples, a support and guide for the/ "thereto, a flexible connection from the drum to the follower, a ratchet connected to the drum, a pivoted pawl arranged to cooperate with the ratchet'to hold the drum against rotation to advance the follower, and cooperating means on said plunger and pawl for releasing the pawl as the plunger is 10. In a stapling machine, a movable plunger for .driving and setting the indi vidual staples, a support and guide for the staples, a follower movable along said guide to advance the staples, a rotatable drum, a coiled spring in the drum and connected at one end to the drum, a lever connected to the other end of the spring and also to the plunger for operation by said plunger, a iexible connection'from the drum to said follower, and means controlled by the plunger Y for controlling the operation of said spring.

11. In a `stapling machine, a movable plunger fordriving and setting the individual staples,`a support and guide for the staples, a movable follower foradvancing the staples, a spring for advancing saidfollower, and means connecting the spring and plunger to increase the tension on the spring as the plunger is operated to drive a staple.

12. In a stapling machine, a movable plunger for drivingy and setting the individual staples, a support and guide for the staples, a movable followerv for advancing the staples, a spring for advancingy said follower, means connecting the spring and plunger to increase the tension on the spring as the plunger is operated to drive a staple, and means controlled by the plunger for controlling the operation of the spring on the follower.

13. In a stapling machine, a movable plunger for driving and setting `the individual staples, a support and guide for the staples, `a movable follower for advancing the staples, a rotatable drum, a coiled spring in the drum connected at one end to the drum, a lever connected to the other end of the spring and arranged to be operated by the plunger to increase the'tension on the spring as the plunger is operated to drive a staple, and a flexible connection from the drum to said follower.

14. In a stapling machine, a housing open at one side thereof, a support and guide for the staples, a movable follower for advancing the staples, a casing mounted in the housing and adapted to be inserted in and removed through said open side, means mounted in the casing for advancing the follower, a connection from said means to the follower, and means for driving and setting the individual staples.

15. In a stapling machine, a housing open at one side thereof, a support and guide for the staples, a movable follower for advancing the staples, a casing mounted in the housing and adapted to be inserted and removed through said open side, la rotatable drum mounted in the casing, a spring in the casing for rotating the drum, aflexible connection from the drum to the follower, anda movable plunger for driving and setting the individual staples.

16. In a stapling machine, a housing, a support and guide for the staples, a movable plunger for driving and setting the individual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a follower for advancing the staples, a spring for operating the follower, and means vadapted to be controlled by the plunger for controlling the operation of the spring.

17. In a stapling machine, a housing, a support and guide for the staples, a'movable plunger for driving and setting the individual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a rotatable drum, a spring tending to rotate the drum, and means operated by vsaid drum for advancingthe staples.

18. In a stapling machine, a housing, a support and guide for the staples, a movable plunger for driving and setting the individual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for `insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a. follower for advancing the staples, a spring tending to advance said follower, and means adapted to be controlled by the plunger for controlling the operation of said spring.

19. In al stapling machine, a housing. a support and guide for the staples, a movable plunger for driving and setting the individual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a follower for advancing the staples, a rotary drum, a spring tending to rotate the drum, and a flexible connection from the drum to the follower.

20. In a stapling machine, a housing. a support and guide for the staples, a movable plunger for driving and setting the individual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a casing, a rotatable drum mounted in said casing, a coiled spring in the drum and connected thereto so as to tend to rotate the drum, a follower for advancing the staples, and a fiexible connection from the drum to said follower. l

21. In a stapling machine, a housing, a support and guide for the staples, a movable plunger for driving and setting the indi- 'vidual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a casing, a rotatable drum mounted in said casing, a coiledy spring in the drum and connected thereto so as to tend to rotate the drum, a follower for advancing the staples. a liexible connection from the drum to the follower, a ratchet secured to the drum. and a pawl adapted to be controlled by the plunger arranged to cooperate with said ratchet to control the operation of the spring.

y 22. In a stapling machine, a housing. a support and guide for the staples, a movable plunger'f'for driving and setting the individual staples, and a unit assembly adapted for insertion in and removal from said housing as a whole, said unit assembly comprising a casing, a rotatable drum mounted in said casing, a coiled spring in the drum and ICO connected at one end to the drum, a leverA connected to the other end of the spring and operated by the plunger, a follower for advancing Athe staples, a connection from thev .at the forward side 'tl1ereof, a support and guide for the'individual staples, a casing adapted to be insertedin the housing through said o en side, means mounted in the casing for a vancing the staples, a reciprocating plunger, and means for securing and guiding the plunger at the open side of said housing.

24. In a staplin machine, a housing open at the forward sie thereof, a support and guide for the individual staples, a casing ada ted to be inserted in the housing through sai open side, a follower for advancing the staples, means mounted in the Acasing for advancing the follower, said housing being provided with guide Ways at the open side thereof, a plunger for driving the staples mounted to reci roc-ate in said guideways, and va, removab e plate for securing the plunger in said guideways and retain the casing in the housing.

25. In a stapling machine, a, housing open at the forward side thereof, a support and guide for the individual staples, a casing adapted to be inserted inthe housing through said open side, a follower for advancing the staples, a rotatable drum in the casing, a connection from the drum to the follower, a coiled springin the drum and connected at one end thereto, a lever connected to the other end of the spring, a reciprocating plunger at the forward side of said housing for driving and setting the individual staples and having operative connection with said lever, and a. second spring Asecured to the lever tending to raise the plunger.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRIDOLIN PoLzER. 

